OKX is among the first global exchanges to seize new MiCA opportunities. In an exclusive interview, OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos explains how the firm is targeting the European and Nordic markets, combining global strength with local presence.
Based on the size of the economies, OKX’s key markets in Europe are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. But according to Ghoos, the Nordics are quickly following suit. “Based on user interests, GDP, and education, the Nordics are extremely interesting markets for us,” he says.
In the interview, we discuss OKX’s position among the top five global crypto companies, measured by users, assets under management, revenue, employees, and geographic coverage. “Where we really distinguish ourselves,” Ghoos notes, “is security — non‑negotiable — and compliance with local regulations as key cornerstones.”
The strategy going into Europe, Ghoos explains, is the combination of a large global product and engineering team with strong local adaptation — through language support, local login solutions, and people on the ground in each country.
We touch on broader market trends such as consumerization, payments, and the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies. A particularly interesting point is Ghoos’ argument about the role of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Decentralized Exchanges (DEX). “DeFi is the future,” he quotes the OKX founder, while stressing that Centralized Exchanges (CEX) remain essential for onboarding billions of users into crypto — thanks to their user experience and educational role.
Ghoos also shared his views about the future of finance, where he believes that traditional financial technologies and crypto will converge and become a new financial tech class.
Ghoos also reveals that OKX’s first product priority in Europe will be derivatives for institutional investors. With many “bad players” now removed from the market, he sees major opportunities for a regulated exchange like OKX. Once launched, the products will be open to institutions across Europe, including the Nordics, while retail investors will be invited to join later.
